IPMAN Asked FG to Stop Destroying Illegal Refineries In The Niger Delta Creeks.

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has asked the Federal Government to stop destroying illegal refineries in the Niger Delta creeks.

Chairman of IPMAN’s Enugu Depot Community, Chinedu Anyaso, said the infrastructure of the illegal refiners could serve the government more by increasing the refining capacity of the country.

Anyaso said while the government’s immediate plan is to get Nigeria’s local refineries working, the operators of the illegal refineries in the creeks should be brought into the national grid.

He urged the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, to table his suggestion to the government, as the illegal refineries will reduce the pressure on foreign exchange.

“The new Minister of State for Petroleum who is from the Niger Delta should encourage the government to bring operators of the illegal refineries in the creeks to the national grid.

“Instead of chasing them and destroying their infrastructure, the government should call them to be part of the solution, at least in the short term while we wait for the main refineries to resume operations. This will reduce the pressure on foreign exchange,” Anyaso said.

Read Also:

ASUU Renews Demand for The Payment Of The Witheld Salaries Of Federal Universities’ Lecturers

Recall that Dangote Refinery was scheduled to commence operation in late July or early August in 2023, however, the private refiner hasn’t begun refining crude oil, with no new time-frame set.

This has caused a setback for the government, which also projected that the Port Harcourt Refinery will be ready at the end of the year.

Note that the commencement of operation at Dangote Refinery and the Port Harcourt Refinery have been postponed on multiple occasions.

The government had depended on Dangote Refinery to bring the price of fuel down in Nigeria and end importation of petrol to save foreign exchange.